Actor Celina Jaitly has found herself in the middle of a complicated cross-country divorce battle after filing a case against her Austrian husband, Peter Haag, in a Mumbai court. The couple, married for 15 years, is now fighting separate legal cases in India and Austria. Celina has accused Peter of domestic violence, emotional abuse and financial control, and is seeking divorce on these grounds. She has also requested custody of her children, monthly alimony of ₹10 lakh, and compensation of Rs 50 crore. Her petition includes detailed allegations about how her husband restricted her access to finances, controlled her documents and isolated her during their years abroad. The Mumbai court has now issued a notice to Peter, returnable by December 12, while Celina continues to deal with the emotional toll of the situation, which she openly addressed in a recent Instagram post.
Meanwhile, the divorce proceedings grew more complicated after it was revealed that Peter had already filed for divorce earlier this year in Austria, where he reportedly blamed Celina for the breakdown of their marriage. According to Celina’s lawyer, Peter is attempting to prove in the Austrian court that she has no claim over any of their jointly held properties. One of the major points of conflict is a property in Vienna that Celina alleges was sold by Peter without informing her. Her petition also states that Peter forced her to transfer her Mumbai property worth Rs 3.5 crore into his name. Alongside financial disputes, the case highlights struggles over their children. After months of difficulty in communicating with them, the Austrian court has recently allowed Celina telephonic access for one hour each day, something her legal team says had earlier been denied by Peter.
In her court filings, Celina further claims that she discovered disturbing details about their past after moving from Dubai to Singapore in 2012. She was told by her sister-in-law that Peter had actually been in a long-term live-in relationship during their courtship, even though he had introduced himself to her as single. While her legal team clarifies that there is no proof of cheating after marriage, this revelation reportedly caused distress soon after the birth of their first set of twins. Her petition also alleges that Peter had complete access to her bank cards, used her savings to support the family, and refused to reveal details about his own earnings. When she questioned him, he allegedly reacted with anger and hostility. Celina claims that during their stay in Austria, he kept her documents including her passport hidden, leaving her dependent and isolated. She eventually managed to retrieve them and return to India with the help of a neighbour.
Alongside her divorce battle, Celina is also fighting another personal crisis involving her only surviving immediate family member, her brother Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly. Detained in the UAE in 2024, he has been awaiting legal clarity, and Celina has been seeking help from the Indian government to secure his safety. On social media, Celina wrote about the immense emotional strain of fighting her marriage, her children’s case, her financial rights and her brother’s situation entirely on her own after losing both her parents. Despite this, she says she has discovered an inner strength that keeps her moving forward. As the legal proceedings continue in both India and Austria, Celina remains determined to fight for her dignity, her children, and the justice she believes she deserves.